Method of manufacturing stockings



E. FISCHER METHOD OF MANUFACTURING STOCKINGS Filed DC. 5, 1955 May 4, 1937.

W ATTORNEY.

Patented May 4, 1937 2,079,439 METHOD lor MANUFACTURING sTocxlNGs I Emil Fischer, Bloomfield, N. J. Application December s, 1935. serial No. 52,639 5 Claims. (Cl. 66-82) NITED STATES PATENT QF'FICE Myinvention relates to the process of producing knitted stockings and refers particularly to methods in which the stocking is knitted from the foot portion to the leg portion, including both `the foot and leg of the stocking.

According to my process, the stocking may be knitted by commencing at either the toe or the heel of the foot portion.

The advantages of a method for knitting stockings according to my invention has many recognized advantages over those employed, in which the leg portion of the stocking is rst knitted and previous attempts to accomplish the purposes of my invention have not been successful.

Among the advantages incident to the following of my process, I mention the followingr- In knitting the heel first the instep portion of the stocking is never taken olf the needles, or transferred, or buried under the knock-over bits, the knitting of the instep has not been interrupted except for lifting the heel tabsupon the knock-over bits and, therefore, silk, ii that is the ber med, can not dry and demarcation in the instep portion will not occur. This is also very important when knitting a mesh or lace stocking, because if the operation in the production of a lace stocking is interrupted for a length of time the silk will dry and when the machine is again started, it will result in dropped stitches.

Further,.when producing a mesh or sh net stocking, a much better selvage can be made in the leg narrowing portion, because it will'be necessary to add stitches instead of throwing off stitches and when stitches are thrown off a heavy seam is necessary and frequently runners occur because of this throwing off of the stitches.

Further, by my method stockings may be made without a narrowing machine because the stitches are added when the stockings are made wider and, therefore, it is not necessary to use a decker machine, hence, the cost of production is much lower and no seconds and menders are produced which is frequently the result of the use of the narrowing machine.

Further, a fashioning of the stocking is produced in exactly the same manner as in the production of full fashioned hosiery.

Further, a more substantial stocking can be produced by my method because it can be knitted much tighter on account of the fact that a decker machine is not used for widening the stocking.

Further, the process of my invention can be followed on a straight knitting machine and producesea perfect match between the leg portion and the foot portion.

It will thusbe seen that the process of my invention has many advantages over the processes now known, including ease of operation, greater economy in operation, and the production of stockings of greater stability, better appearance 5 and more salable properties than those resulting from knitting operations in which the leg portion is rst produced, followed by the production of the foot portion.

'I'he following is a general description of the 10 method of my invention, in which the heel is first produced.

After the heel is knitted it is buried under the knock-over bits, then the foot is knitted starting at the toe. When the foot is knitted up to the instep portion a loose course is knitted in each sole after which raveling courses are knitted. 'Then the raveling courses are pressed off the spring beard knitting needles and the heel is lifted upon the knock-over bits in order to give a better connection at the instep jointure as the heels can be knitted two needles wider toward the instep than the raveling courses or pull threads are knitted. Then the high heel portion and the leg portion of the stocking are knitted.

The raveling courses after the loose course in each sole can be omitted, if one or two courses of so called pull threads are knitted in. The pull threads are not pressed oil. the spring beard knitting needles before the heel tabs are lifted above the knock-over bits. The heel tabs and pull threads are knitted together when the high heel and leg portion are started. If the high heel and leg portions are nished the welt is knitted and this should start with a loose course and the 3 welt bar is hooked up in the loose course and the welt is knitted.

The welt is turned in the usual Way and a lock stitch will be knitted in which the lock stitch may consist of one or more tight courses and ends 40 in the loose course. To make the tight courses a. very elastic thread to be used so that the loose course stitches made of a heavier thread cannot be opened up or else have loose course stitches locked on a looping machine.V

In the following of my processby starting at the toe end of the foot portion, the knitting is continued up to the instep. A loose course is then knitted in each sole after which raveling courses are knitted. The raveling courses are thenpressed off and the central instep portion is buried under the knock-over bits. 'I'he heel tab is then knitted and when finished the central instep portion is lifted upon the knock-over bits and the high heel and leg portions are knitted. The stocking is then nished as described above. After the stocking blank is finished, the loose course needle loops in each sole are connected tothe inner selvage of each heel tab, and afterthis is accomplished the looping process at the end of each heel tab and in the toe follows. For this purpose the loose course sinker loops are used in the heel tabs as well as in the toe. .e

I do not limit myself to any particular machine or device capable of accomplishing the stocking of my invention, as this may be varied in order to suit the particular requirements of the operator.

My invention rests in the method of knitting stockings by commencing the knitting process at either the toe end or the heel end to the foot portion and continuing the knitting through the foot portion into and including the leg portion.

In the accompanying drawing showing modifled forms of the portions of the device of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure l shows the various portions' of a stocking produced by the process of my invention, as

' presented during the knitting.

Figure 2 shows the heel portion of a stocking produced by my process.

Figure 3 shows one form of the toe and foot portions of a stocking -produced by my process.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a stocking produced by my process.Y

Figure 5 is a fragmental View of a modiiied form of the toe and he'el portions of a stocking produced by my process.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of welt suitable for use in my process.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of welt suitable for use in my process.

The following method is followed in knitting the heel first, this being followed. by the toe land foot portions, the stocking being then completed by knitting the leg portion. y

The machine first knits the heel ravei courses itl-l0 which are continued the desired length when the loose courses ii-li are knitted and then the heel courses l2-I2 are continued for the desired width and length. The heel is then buried under the knock-over bits and the machine is started to knit the toe portion.

The operation of knitting the toe and foot portions is as followszy First ravel courses i3 are knitted which is iollowed by the loose course id and the knitting is continued as at l5 to form the foot portion, this knitting being continued to the point i6, and then further continued to form the portions il, il necessary stitches being added. The knitting then continues to form the loose course lill-I8 and the ravel courses iQ-IQ.

The heel tabs are then lifted above the knockover bits and the machine is started to knit the leg portion 2t and is continued until the point 2i is reached when additional stitches are added to give the leg portion the required increased width. Knitting continues'up vto the welt, then the welt is knitted.

- While various welt constructions may be employed, the welt 23 shown in Figure 1 is a threeply welt with enclosed lock-stitch, which is made by knitting a loose course, hooking up the weltbar, running one length of welt, burying the one length of welt under the knock-over bits, making a loose course hooking up loose courses with the welt bar, running` another length of welt,

bringing first one length welt above knock-over bits and running one more length of welt. .The Welt is then turned, following the lockstitch 22.

The inside line (Figure 2) of each heel tab is looped together with loose course stitches IB in each sole as at 24 in Figure 4.

When the toe and foot portion of the stocking is knitted before the heel portion, the operation is as described above except that the toe and foot portion is first knitted and buried under the knock-over bits, after which the heel portion is knitted.

In producing the modified form of my toe and foot portion shown in Figure 5, the ravel courses 26, 26 are rst knitted, then the loose courses 2l, 21, then the portions 28, 28 to the point 29 and then the portion 30, 30,- the formations of the other portions being as described.

The modified form of welt 3i shown in Figure 6 is an outside lock-stitch welt with the lockstitch 32 at the upper portion of the welt and may be producedin any suitable manner.

'I'he modified form of welt 33 shown in Figure 'l is an outside two-ply lock-stitch welt with the lock stitch 34 at the -lower portion of the welt and may be produced in any suitable manner.

It will thus be seen that my invention isdlrected to a process for producing knitted stockings having many valuable advantages over the processes now employed.

I do not limit myself to the particular devices, bers or steps of procedure shown and described as these are givensimply in order to clearly describe my invention. p

What I claim is:-

1. Inthe method of knitting a stochng upon a full-'fashioned knitting machine, the steps consisting of* first knitting one end. portion of the foot, burying said end portion under knock-over bits, knittingy the other end portion of the foot, knitting a loose course, knitting ravel courses, pressing the ravel courses off the spring beard knitting needles, lifting the rst knitted portion above the knock-over bits, knitting the leg portion, knitting a welt to the leg portion, connecting the loose course needle loops in each sole to the inner selvages of each heel, lconnecting the loose coursevsinker loops at the end of each heel to each other and closing up the toe with the loose course sinker loops. l

2. In the method of knitting a stocking upon a full-fashioned knitting machine, the steps consisting of first knitting the heel portion, burying saidv knitted heel portion under knock-over bits, knitting the toe portion and continuing said process producing the remainder of the foot portion to the instep portion, knitting a loose course, knitting pull threads, lifting the heel tabs above the knock-over bits, knitting the pull threads to the heel tabs, knitting the leg portion, knitting a welt to the leg portion, c onnecting the loose course needle loops in each sole to the inner selvages of each heel, connecting the loose course sinker loops at the end of each heel to each other and closing up the toe with the loose course sinker loops.

3. In the method of knitting a stocking upon a `full-fashioned knitting machine, the steps consisting of rst knitting the heel portion, burying said knitted heel portion under-knock-overbits,

knitting the toe portion and continuing said process producing the remainder of the foot portion to the instep portion, knitting a loose course, knitting ravel courses, pressing the ravel courses oif the spring beard needles, lifting the heel tabs above the knock-over bits, knitting the leg portions, knitting a welt to the leg portion, connecting the loose course needle loops in each sole to the inner selvages vof each heel, connecting the loose course sinker loops at the end of each heel to each other and closing up the toe with the loose course sinker loops.

4L In the method of knitting a stocking upon a full-fashioned knitting machine, the steps consisting of ijst knitting the toe portion-to the instep, knitting a loose course, knitting raveling courses, pressing the raveling courses o the spring beard needles burying the central instep end of each heel to each other and closing up the toe with the loose course sinker loops.

5. In the method of knitting a stocking ona full fashioned knitting machine, the steps consisting of iirst knitting heel raveling courses, knitting a loose course,-knitting the heel portions, burying'the thus produced element of the stocking under knock-over bits, knitting toe raveling courses, knitting a. loose course, continuing the knitting producing the remainder of the foot portion tothe instep portion, knitting a loose course in each foot sole portion, knitting raveling courses, lifting the heel tabs above the knock-over bits, knitting the leg portion, knitting a Welt to the leg portion, connecting the loose course needle loops in each sole to the inner selva/ges of each heel, connecting the loose course sinker loops at.

the end of each heel to each other and closing up the toe with the loose course sinker loops.v

EMIL FISCHER. 

